Provinces

Note: At independence in 1960 there were 6 provinces. In connection with the internal troubles of the country the number had risen to 21 in 1963. On 1 Aug 1964 a new "federal" constitution confirmed this fragmentation. After the military coup of Mobutu (25 Nov 1965) the power of the central government was restored and the number of provinces decreased to 12 in Apr 1966 and 8 in Dec 1966 (plus the city of Kinshasa respectively). A presidential decree of 31 Oct 1966 put an end to the last remnants of provincial autonomy. In 2015 another division increased the number of provinces from 11 to 26 (including Kinshasa). They are grouped below according to the territories of the 6 provinces existing in 1960.

¹On 12 Apr 1961 Kalonji assembled notables and they proclaimed Kalonji's father, Edmond Mukanya Mulenda (d. 1969), as mulopwe, the traditional Luba royal style. The new mulopwe immediately abdicated in favour of Albert.
²Kalonji was arrested 30 Dec 1961 but escaped 7 Sep 1962 and set up a new government that was terminated 1 Oct 1962.

Mwene Ditu
1962 territory of Mwene Ditu is intended to become part of the
new province of Sud-Kasaï, but as parts of its population
want to join other provinces, it is decided to hold a
plebiscite and until that time the territory is neutralized
and governed separately by special administrators
19 Apr 1965 plebiscite decides in favour of Lualaba province; this is
not recognized by Sud-Kasaï and unrest follows; as a
consequence a state of emergency is proclaimed and a
commissioner of the republic takes over
11 Feb 1966 an agreement is reached between the two provinces and
Lualaba gives up its claims
18 Feb 1966 territory formally annexed to Sud-Kasaï
Special administrators
18 Dec 1962 - 30 Apr 1965 Daniel Ilonga
Apr 1965 - 7 May 1965 Antoine Panzout
7 May 1965 - 15 Sep 1965 Louis Abdala
Commissioner of the republic
15 Sep 1965 - 18 Feb 1966 Michel Ndju